NCMS West Partners with Navy to Support ROV STEM Challenge

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Kicking off June 2013 with some great STEM water activities, NCMS in collaboration with Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & IMF and NUWC Keyport, WA, held the 2nd Annual Underwater Vehicle Competition at Olympic High School Pool in Bremerton, WA. This event, aimed at promoting higher education in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, hosted 116 students from 15 western Washington schools. Skilled technicians from NCMS, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & IMF and NUWC Keyport, WA were directly involved with the participating schools districts in event preparation, joining with teachers in classrooms to assist in helping hone the skills needed for our future technicians and leaders.

This ROV Challenge presented students with an opportunity to take charge, react to a needed repair of equipment on the ocean floor, clean up debris and rescue sea life trapped in the surrounding area. Students were required to maneuver their ROVs though complex obstacles, conduct precision movements and retrieve simulated debris and sea life of various shapes and sizes.

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The students with the top three scores received prizes. Scoring was based on combined scores from the pool challenge and a separate technical presentation, explaining the process of making the students’ ROV and techniques used in the pool challenge. Teachers representing those students were also recognized and presented gift cards for their efforts in encouraging our future generation to seek advanced technical education.

NCMS members interested in assisting these efforts for western Washington schools or in your local area should contact Jeff Walker, NCMS Project Manager at 360-782-1370, jeffw@ncms.org.